Shloka 31
Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)
न चोवाच स मेधावी तमथो साध्वसाधु वा । तस्थौ तथैव चाक्रुद्ध: सर्प स्कन्धेन धारयन्,किंतु उन मेधावी मुनिने इसके लिये उन्हें भला या बुरा कुछ नहीं कहा। वे क्रोधरहित हो कंधेपर मरा सर्प लिये हुए पूर्ववत् शान्त-भावसे बैठे रहे
na covāca sa medhāvī tam atho sādhv asādhu vā | tasthau tathaiva cākruddhaḥ sarpa-skandhena dhārayan ||
Doch der weise Asket sagte ihm nichts — weder Gutes noch Schlechtes. Frei von Zorn blieb er wie zuvor, still und gelassen, die tote Schlange weiterhin auf der Schulter tragend.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights akrodha (freedom from anger) and kṣamā (forbearance): the wise do not react impulsively with praise or blame, but remain steady and composed even when insulted or burdened.
After being treated disrespectfully—having a dead snake placed on his shoulder—the sage neither rebukes nor curses the offender. He remains as before, calm and unangered, continuing to sit with the snake still on his shoulder.